ST 2801

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2800

A full review by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment *****

This puzzle was published on Sunday, 21st June 2015

One of those puzzles where you’re delighted to be the reviewer as it gives you a chance to enjoy it all over again.   Lots of clues I really liked but I think I’ll select 17a for top favourite

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.  You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five best!

Across

7a           Area set in Siam, possibly, or another Eastern country (8)
MALAYSIA –   Insert A (area) and LAY (set) into an anagram (possibly) of SIAM.

9a           Saw cut one circle in slow movement (6)
ADAGIO –   ADAGe (saw or saying cut, having its last letter removed) I (one) O (circle).

10a         Irish quarter changed as result (6)
ULSTER –   An anagram (changed as) of RESULT.

11a         Preparing to fight outside US city — that’s scary (8)
ALARMING   –   LA (the US city of Los Angeles) inserted into ARMING (preparing to fight).

12a         Misbehaviour of king in banking, for example (6,8)
MONKEY BUSINESS – K (king) inserted into MONEY BUSINESS (banking, for example).

15a         Conclusions reached by student despite the chaos in places on course (4)
TEES –   The ‘conclusions’ of studenT despitE thE chaoS.

17a         Cut diamonds right, left, and centre (5)
DICED –   D (diamonds) on the right and left of ICE (a slang term for diamonds) in the centre.

19a         Mostly perform brain operations fine (4)
THIN – Most of THINk (perform brain operations).

20a         Result of shocking event at sanatorium? It might be (14)
TRAUMATISATION –   An anagram (might be) of AT SANATORIUM IT.

23a         Offer support, also reforms (8)
PROPOSAL – PROP (support) followed by an anagram (reforms) of ALSO.

25a         Something from abroad the writer’s left on plane (6)
IMPORT – IM (the writer’s) and PORT (left side of an aeroplane).

27a         Sensitive and caring type (6)
TENDER – Double definitions.

28a         Reckoning error I found in manuscript is by Tolstoy, say (8)
MISCOUNT – I (from the clue) inserted into (found in) MS (manuscript) and COUNT (Tolstoy being some one who was a Count).

Down

1d           In Paris, I’ve left prison (4)
JAIL – J’AI (the French for I have) and L (left).

2d           Time in piece of music satisfactory for composer (6)
BARTOK –   BAR (piece of music) T (time) OK (satisfactory).

3d           Decline shortest article or long story (4)
SAGA –   SAG (decline) A (the grammatical article that is shorter than AN or THE).

4d           A female in Asian garment for trip after big game (6)
SAFARI – A (from the clue) and F (female) inserted into a SARI (Asian garment).

5d           Least sensible part of job armies tackled (8)
BARMIEST –   Hidden in part of joB ARMIES Tackled.

6d           Greek character on a strange mission — very hush-hush? (10)
PIANISSIMO – PI (Greek letter) A (from the clue) and an anagram (strange) of MISSION.

8d           Got off course, so remained without some basic education (7)
STRAYED –   STAYED (remained) without or outside R (one of the 3 Rs, basic education).

13d         Vessel in evident trouble listed, finally capsized (10)
OVERTURNED –   OVERT (evident) URN (vessel) and the final letters of troublE and listeD.

14d         Like book that’s complete, or marginally unfinished (5)
UNCUT –   An unabridged book could be one still with its rough margins.

16d         Mass movement suddenly made an impression on European (8)
STAMPEDE –   STAMPED (made an impression) E (European).

18d         Stump, perhaps, as part of crossword is missing (7)
DISMISS –   Hidden in part of crossworD IS MISSing.

21d         Leaders abandoning PM and his very hapless state (6)
MISERY –   Remove the first letters (leaders) from pM hIS vERY.

22d         First-class spinner following bit of advice (3-3)
TIP-TOP –   TOP (spinner) follows a TIP (bit of advice).

24d         Family endlessly raised capital (4)
LIMA –   Remove the letters each end of fAMILy and reverse (raised) what’s left.

26d         Read note, oddly, as expression of anger (4)
RANT –   The odd letters of ReAd NoTe.

 

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